Championship leaders Wolves bounced back from their mauling at Aston Villa to stay three points clear of Cardiff on a night when anxious fans were worried the pressure of being title favourites might begin to tell. Another bad result could have seen their lead, which stood at 13 points only a month ago, eroded completely by the relentless winning streak of their rivals from Wales, whose best form of the season has coincided with Wolves’ worst. But after head coach Nuno Espirito Santo shook them up with four changes from the side beaten 4-1 at Villa, Wolves responded in a fashion that saw normal service restored, goals in each half by Matt Doherty sandwiching one in between by Benik Afobe to give them a comfortable win. More importantly even than keeping Cardiff at arm’s length, the result stretched the gap between themselves and third place to 10 points as a result of Villa faltering at home to Queen’s Park Rangers. “It was just the result we needed after Saturday,” Doherty said. “We needed another game as quickly as possible. The defeat at Villa doesn’t mean so much now, especially after they lost, so we are in a good position. Benik Afobe scores for Wolves Credit: GETTY IMAGES “There has been no panic. It might look from the outside world that you’re under pressure but as professionals you know that you are not going to win every game.” Wolves now have a chance to put some pressure on Cardiff by beating struggling Burton Albion at Molineux on Saturday, with Neil Warnock’s team not in action until they travel to Derby on Sunday. Reading looked solid at first and Wolves suffered a blow when top scorer Diogo Jota had to be replaced because of ankle injury after 25 minutes. But once Doherty had headed them in front on 40 minutes they never looked like surrendering their advantage and in the second half recaptured the swagger of earlier in the season. Some miserable defending allowed Helder Costa to rescue a ball that seemed to be going nowhere and set up Afobe for an easy score, before a slick move ended with Doherty collecting a return pass from Cavaleiro to drive home his second. Reading have won only one match in 17 and manager Jaap Stam admits he is under pressure. “If the owners want to make a change it is up to them but up until now they have been very supportive,” he said. Team details Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-4-3): Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Saiss, Neves, Douglas; Costa, Jota (Cavaleiro 25), Afobe (Bonatini 72). Substitutes not used: Norris (g), N’Diaye, Batth, Gibbs-White, Miranda. Reading (5-4-1):Jaakkola; Gunter, Moore, Ilori, Blackett; Edwards, Evans (Bacuna 63); Aluko, Clement, Barrow; Bodvarsson (Smith 83). Substitutes not used: Mannone (g), Kermorgant, Rinomhota, Loader, Holmes. Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside) Bookings: Wolves: Bennett. Reading: Gunter, Evans. Attendance: 27,341.

Championship leaders Wolves bounced back from their mauling at Aston Villa to stay three points clear of Cardiff on a night when anxious fans were worried the pressure of being title favourites might begin to tell. Another bad result could have seen their lead, which stood at 13 points only a month ago, eroded completely by the relentless winning streak of their rivals from Wales, whose best form of the season has coincided with Wolves’ worst. But after head coach Nuno Espirito Santo shook them up with four changes from the side beaten 4-1 at Villa, Wolves responded in a fashion that saw normal service restored, goals in each half by Matt Doherty sandwiching one in between by Benik Afobe to give them a comfortable win. More importantly even than keeping Cardiff at arm’s length, the result stretched the gap between themselves and third place to 10 points as a result of Villa faltering at home to Queen’s Park Rangers. “It was just the result we needed after Saturday,” Doherty said. “We needed another game as quickly as possible. The defeat at Villa doesn’t mean so much now, especially after they lost, so we are in a good position. Benik Afobe scores for Wolves Credit: GETTY IMAGES “There has been no panic. It might look from the outside world that you’re under pressure but as professionals you know that you are not going to win every game.” Wolves now have a chance to put some pressure on Cardiff by beating struggling Burton Albion at Molineux on Saturday, with Neil Warnock’s team not in action until they travel to Derby on Sunday. Reading looked solid at first and Wolves suffered a blow when top scorer Diogo Jota had to be replaced because of ankle injury after 25 minutes. But once Doherty had headed them in front on 40 minutes they never looked like surrendering their advantage and in the second half recaptured the swagger of earlier in the season. Some miserable defending allowed Helder Costa to rescue a ball that seemed to be going nowhere and set up Afobe for an easy score, before a slick move ended with Doherty collecting a return pass from Cavaleiro to drive home his second. Reading have won only one match in 17 and manager Jaap Stam admits he is under pressure. “If the owners want to make a change it is up to them but up until now they have been very supportive,” he said. Team details Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-4-3): Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Saiss, Neves, Douglas; Costa, Jota (Cavaleiro 25), Afobe (Bonatini 72). Substitutes not used: Norris (g), N’Diaye, Batth, Gibbs-White, Miranda. Reading (5-4-1):Jaakkola; Gunter, Moore, Ilori, Blackett; Edwards, Evans (Bacuna 63); Aluko, Clement, Barrow; Bodvarsson (Smith 83). Substitutes not used: Mannone (g), Kermorgant, Rinomhota, Loader, Holmes. Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside) Bookings: Wolves: Bennett. Reading: Gunter, Evans. Attendance: 27,341.

Championship Review: Wolves return to winning ways, open gap to Villa

Aston Villa lost the ground made up on Wolves in their weekend defeat of the league leaders as contrasting results opened up a 10-point gap.

Brentford 1 Cardiff City 3: Neil Warnock's men bounce back from a goal down to extend lead over third-place Aston Villa

Neil Warnock has enjoyed many memorable moments during his managerial career, but surely Tuesday night will be among his best. The 69 year-old is within ­touching distance of an eighth promotion after his Cardiff side recovered from 1-0 down to record a seventh straight win and nearest challengers Aston Villa lost. There is now a seven-point gap between the second-placed Welsh side and the chasing pack. “It was a super night but I am not getting carried away,” said Warnock. “I’m not confident of anything in the Championship. But let’s enjoy it, all the pressure is on the big clubs. There is no pressure on me.” Brentford started well but only had Neal Maupay’s goal after five minutes to show for their fearless first-half approach. An equaliser from defender Sol Bamba, half-volleyed home on the turn from the edge of the area on 25 minutes, ultimately changed the game. Cardiff took the lead in first-half stoppage time as Callum Paterson to fired home. Any hopes of a Brentford comeback were ended on 58 minutes as Kenneth Zohore converted from close range. “I’m not sure if they were dominant or we were soft,” admitted Brentford manager Dean Smith. Team details Brentford (4-3-3) Bentley; Clarke, Egan, Mepham, Barbet; Yennaris, Woods (Macleod 69), Sawyers; Canos (Marcondes 69), Maupay (Judge 76), Watkins. Subs Daniels, McEachran, Mokotjo, Ogbene. Booked Mepham. Cardiff City (4-3-3) Etheridge; Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Paterson, Damour, Grujic; Mendez-Laing (Traore 88), Zohore (Madine 77), Hoilett (Wildschut 82). Subs Murphy, Pilkington, Halford, Connolly. Booked Ecuele Manga, Damour, Morrison. Referee James Linington (Isle of Wight).

Wolves back on track with win over Reading as Aston Villa suffer surprise home defeat by QPR

Wolves back on track with win over Reading as Aston Villa suffer surprise home defeat by QPR

Wolves back on track with win over Reading as Aston Villa suffer surprise home defeat by QPR

Wolves back on track with win over Reading as Aston Villa suffer surprise home defeat by QPR

Wolves back on track with win over Reading as Aston Villa suffer surprise home defeat by QPR

Wolves back on track with win over Reading as Aston Villa suffer surprise home defeat by QPR

Brentford 1 Cardiff City 3: Neil Warnock's men bounce back from a goal down to extend lead over third-place Aston Villa

Brentford 1 Cardiff City 3: Neil Warnock's men bounce back from a goal down to extend lead over third-place Aston Villa

ISL 2017-18: John Gregory - Chennaiyin FC could have gone home with a 3-0 advantage

The former Aston Villa boss felt that his side could have been winners but was happy with the one away goal...

Football League to hold talks with Wolves over Jorge Mendes links and club at risk of breaching FFP rules after reporting £23.2m loss

The Football League is to hold fresh talks with Wolverhampton Wanderers after a number of Championship rivals expressed concerns over the involvement of Portuguese “super-agent” Jorge Mendes. Shaun Harvey, the League’s chief executive, is going to meet with the Wolves hierarchy but it is understood the Championship league leaders have already received reassurances they are not breaking any rules. As revealed by Telegraph Sport, many of Wolves' promotion rivals, including Leeds, Aston Villa and Derby, have voiced their concerns to the EFL over Mendes's links with the Midlands club, claiming they breach regulations on third-party ownership. Mendes is the agent of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, £15m signing Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Ivan Cavaleiro, and also has a long association with Wolves owners Fosun International. Wolves have always insisted they are satisfied with Mendes's role, while Molineux sources have pointed out that all of the paperwork for the club's transfer deals are lodged with the Football Association. And while the Football League has confirmed the matter was discussed at Thursday’s monthly board meeting, and talks will be held with the club, it is believed Wolves will not face any punishment. Jeff Shi, Guo Guangchang, and Jorge Mendes Credit: Getty Images The EFL’s statement read: “At its meeting the EFL Board considered at length the matter of the relationship between Wolverhampton Wanderers, majority shareholder of the Club, Fosun and Jorge Mendes, in light of the recent concerns raised by a number of Clubs. “It was agreed that the EFL Executive will meet with the management of the club to reiterate the requirements of our regulations and those of the FA and will report back to the Board in due course. “It should be noted that the club was explicitly informed in July 2016 of all the requirements it was expected to meet as part of the change of control, and appropriate arrangements were put in place to ensure compliance. “The club has confirmed that the undertakings given at the time remain in place and are being complied with.” Despite the Football League’s stance, many clubs remain dissatisfied over the Mendes link. Andrea Radrizzani, the Leeds owner, tweeted after the 3-0 home defeat to Wolves on Wednesday: “We have our own problems but we should play in a fair competition. Not legal and fair let one team owned by a fund who has shares in the biggest players agency with evident benefits top [sic] European clubs giving players with options to buy… why other 23 clubs can’t haver [sic] same.” We have our own problems but we should play in a fair competition. Not legal and fair let one team owned by a fund whom has shares in the biggest players agency with evident benefits (top European clubs giving players with options to buy ..why the other 23 teams can’t have same— Andrea Radrizzani (@andrearadri) March 7, 2018 Wolves, meanwhile, have admitted to being in danger of breaching Financial Fair Play rules after after making a loss of more than £20 million last season. The club acknowledged the risk of “financial and operational” sanctions being imposed upon them in annual accounts published on Wednesday. Under current English Football League rules, teams are allowed to post a maximum loss of £39 million over a three-year period - minus certain exemptions. The accounts for Wolves’s parent company W.W. (1990) Ltd show they made a £23.2m loss last season following a £5.8m profit the previous year. They are required to submit their projected profit/loss figures for the current season later this month, which will be used to determine whether they have complied with FFP rules over the 2015-18 period. A projected loss similar to last season’s could put them in danger of breaching the £39m cap and see the EFL impose a points deduction in order to stop them benefiting by gaining promotion. An alternative - and far more controversial - sanction, given the riches on offer in the Premier League, would be to hand them a the kind of fine the EFL was forced to issue to the likes of Queens Park Rangers under its previous FFP rules. A Wolves spokesperson said on Thursday: “We remain completely compliant with the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules, and have absolutely no concerns about breaching them in the future.”

Football League to hold talks with Wolves over Jorge Mendes links and club at risk of breaching FFP rules after reporting £23.2m loss

The Football League is to hold fresh talks with Wolverhampton Wanderers after a number of Championship rivals expressed concerns over the involvement of Portuguese “super-agent” Jorge Mendes. Shaun Harvey, the League’s chief executive, is going to meet with the Wolves hierarchy but it is understood the Championship league leaders have already received reassurances they are not breaking any rules. As revealed by Telegraph Sport, many of Wolves' promotion rivals, including Leeds, Aston Villa and Derby, have voiced their concerns to the EFL over Mendes's links with the Midlands club, claiming they breach regulations on third-party ownership. Mendes is the agent of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, £15m signing Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Ivan Cavaleiro, and also has a long association with Wolves owners Fosun International. Wolves have always insisted they are satisfied with Mendes's role, while Molineux sources have pointed out that all of the paperwork for the club's transfer deals are lodged with the Football Association. And while the Football League has confirmed the matter was discussed at Thursday’s monthly board meeting, and talks will be held with the club, it is believed Wolves will not face any punishment. Jeff Shi, Guo Guangchang, and Jorge Mendes Credit: Getty Images The EFL’s statement read: “At its meeting the EFL Board considered at length the matter of the relationship between Wolverhampton Wanderers, majority shareholder of the Club, Fosun and Jorge Mendes, in light of the recent concerns raised by a number of Clubs. “It was agreed that the EFL Executive will meet with the management of the club to reiterate the requirements of our regulations and those of the FA and will report back to the Board in due course. “It should be noted that the club was explicitly informed in July 2016 of all the requirements it was expected to meet as part of the change of control, and appropriate arrangements were put in place to ensure compliance. “The club has confirmed that the undertakings given at the time remain in place and are being complied with.” Despite the Football League’s stance, many clubs remain dissatisfied over the Mendes link. Andrea Radrizzani, the Leeds owner, tweeted after the 3-0 home defeat to Wolves on Wednesday: “We have our own problems but we should play in a fair competition. Not legal and fair let one team owned by a fund who has shares in the biggest players agency with evident benefits top [sic] European clubs giving players with options to buy… why other 23 clubs can’t haver [sic] same.” We have our own problems but we should play in a fair competition. Not legal and fair let one team owned by a fund whom has shares in the biggest players agency with evident benefits (top European clubs giving players with options to buy ..why the other 23 teams can’t have same— Andrea Radrizzani (@andrearadri) March 7, 2018 Wolves, meanwhile, have admitted to being in danger of breaching Financial Fair Play rules after after making a loss of more than £20 million last season. The club acknowledged the risk of “financial and operational” sanctions being imposed upon them in annual accounts published on Wednesday. Under current English Football League rules, teams are allowed to post a maximum loss of £39 million over a three-year period - minus certain exemptions. The accounts for Wolves’s parent company W.W. (1990) Ltd show they made a £23.2m loss last season following a £5.8m profit the previous year. They are required to submit their projected profit/loss figures for the current season later this month, which will be used to determine whether they have complied with FFP rules over the 2015-18 period. A projected loss similar to last season’s could put them in danger of breaching the £39m cap and see the EFL impose a points deduction in order to stop them benefiting by gaining promotion. An alternative - and far more controversial - sanction, given the riches on offer in the Premier League, would be to hand them a the kind of fine the EFL was forced to issue to the likes of Queens Park Rangers under its previous FFP rules. A Wolves spokesperson said on Thursday: “We remain completely compliant with the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules, and have absolutely no concerns about breaching them in the future.”

Chris Coleman would normally welcome a goal from his top scorer, but when that turns out to be a forward who left Sunderland two months ago scoring on his return, it encapsulates a disastrous campaign that looks increasingly likely to end in relegation. Lewis Grabban's third goal in as many games for Aston Villa helped to seal a ninth win in 11 games to cement their grip on third place as Steve Bruce's side pulled to within seven points of Championship leaders Wolves, who they host on Saturday. Grabban found the net 12 times for the Wearside club during a loan spell from Bournemouth in the first half of the season, to leave him still six clear of the next most prolific Sunderland player this season, Aiden McGeady, who has six. However, as the jeers from home fans were quick to remind him, the 30-year-old left under something of a cloud when opting to swap Sunderland's seemingly futile relegation battle for life at the opposite end of the table under Steve Bruce, whose side look a decent bet to end the club's two-season exile from the top flight. Bruce enjoyed his latest return to this part of the North-East, and the former Sunderland manager now boasts a record of just one defeat in It was another night to forget for Coleman Credit: pa 16 games against his former employers, who remain bottom of the table and appear doomed to back-to-back relegations for the first time in their history. Given the hosts' brittle confidence and almost non-existent self-belief once they go behind, the outcome looked in little doubt after the visitors surged into a deserved two-goal lead at the interval to condemn Coleman's side to an eighth game without victory. Almost inevitably, the deadlock was broken by Grabban. The forward made the most of hesitant defending from his former team-mates John O'Shea and Billy Jones, who allowed Albert Adomah's left-wing centre across the face of goal, to head home u opposed at the far post 11 minutes before the interval. Sunderland were undone by further sub-standard defending in first-half stoppage time when Lamine Kone failed to jump with James Chester, who comfortably headed home an in-swinging corner from Robert Snodgrass. Conor Hourihane underlined Villa's dominance by thumping home his side's third goal in the 66th minute, scoring from a narrow angle with a shot which is likely to go down as an own goal from Bryan Ovideo, one which goalkeeper Jason Steele should still have comfortably kept out. In a further boost to Villa's hopes of ending their two-season top flight exile, Jack Grealish came off the bench for the final 20 minutes on the midfielder's return from a three-week injury absence to underline the competition for places Bruce has at his disposal to maintain performance levels for the final two month of the campaign.

Chris Coleman would normally welcome a goal from his top scorer, but when that turns out to be a forward who left Sunderland two months ago scoring on his return, it encapsulates a disastrous campaign that looks increasingly likely to end in relegation. Lewis Grabban's third goal in as many games for Aston Villa helped to seal a ninth win in 11 games to cement their grip on third place as Steve Bruce's side pulled to within seven points of Championship leaders Wolves, who they host on Saturday. Grabban found the net 12 times for the Wearside club during a loan spell from Bournemouth in the first half of the season, to leave him still six clear of the next most prolific Sunderland player this season, Aiden McGeady, who has six. However, as the jeers from home fans were quick to remind him, the 30-year-old left under something of a cloud when opting to swap Sunderland's seemingly futile relegation battle for life at the opposite end of the table under Steve Bruce, whose side look a decent bet to end the club's two-season exile from the top flight. Bruce enjoyed his latest return to this part of the North-East, and the former Sunderland manager now boasts a record of just one defeat in It was another night to forget for Coleman Credit: pa 16 games against his former employers, who remain bottom of the table and appear doomed to back-to-back relegations for the first time in their history. Given the hosts' brittle confidence and almost non-existent self-belief once they go behind, the outcome looked in little doubt after the visitors surged into a deserved two-goal lead at the interval to condemn Coleman's side to an eighth game without victory. Almost inevitably, the deadlock was broken by Grabban. The forward made the most of hesitant defending from his former team-mates John O'Shea and Billy Jones, who allowed Albert Adomah's left-wing centre across the face of goal, to head home u opposed at the far post 11 minutes before the interval. Sunderland were undone by further sub-standard defending in first-half stoppage time when Lamine Kone failed to jump with James Chester, who comfortably headed home an in-swinging corner from Robert Snodgrass. Conor Hourihane underlined Villa's dominance by thumping home his side's third goal in the 66th minute, scoring from a narrow angle with a shot which is likely to go down as an own goal from Bryan Ovideo, one which goalkeeper Jason Steele should still have comfortably kept out. In a further boost to Villa's hopes of ending their two-season top flight exile, Jack Grealish came off the bench for the final 20 minutes on the midfielder's return from a three-week injury absence to underline the competition for places Bruce has at his disposal to maintain performance levels for the final two month of the campaign.

Clubs Contact the Football League to Urge Them to Investigate Agent Jorge Mendes' Role at Wolves

Rival clubs are calling for an investigation by the Football League into Jorge Mendes' role at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Mendes is a Portuguese agent whose clients include Jose Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and ​Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, as well as a number of Wolves players. The club sit at the top of the ​Championship and look set for a return to the Premier League next season, but John Percy reports in the ​Telegraph that Championship rivals including ​Leeds, ​Aston Villa and...

Clubs Contact the Football League to Urge Them to Investigate Agent Jorge Mendes' Role at Wolves

Rival clubs are calling for an investigation by the Football League into Jorge Mendes' role at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Mendes is a Portuguese agent whose clients include Jose Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and ​Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, as well as a number of Wolves players. The club sit at the top of the ​Championship and look set for a return to the Premier League next season, but John Percy reports in the ​Telegraph that Championship rivals including ​Leeds, ​Aston Villa and...

Rivals call for inquiry into Jorge Mendes' role at Wolves

The Football League has been urged by Championship clubs to investigate the influence of Jorge Mendes, the Portuguese agent, at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and a promotion rival plans to write to the authorities. Mendes, whose clients include Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo, has close links with Wolves and there is growing unease among clubs in the division over how far his influence extends. The Telegraph has seen a draft letter from a rival club, which will be addressed to League chief executive, Shaun Harvey, and the Football Association, outlining those concerns and there is understood to be a growing clamour from others to launch an inquiry. Leeds United, Aston Villa and Derby County are thought to be three of the teams who have voiced dissatisfaction in the past to the Football League. Mendes, who has no official title on the Wolves website, has a number of clients at the club, including head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, £15 million midfielder Ruben Neves, attacker Diogo Jota (on loan from Atlético Madrid) and £7m winger Ivan Cavaleiro. It is alleged that “almost half” of 25 players signed in the past 18 months have been from Mendes’s Gestifute firm, though this has not been officially confirmed. Nuno Espirito Santo, the Wolves manager, is one of many Mendes clients at Molineux Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Mendes’s link with Wolves began in July 2016 when Chinese conglomerate Fosun International completed its £30m takeover, and his presence has always been a source of intrigue for rivals. He has a long-standing relationship with Fosun and agreed to sell a minority share of his agency to a subsidiary of Fosun in 2015. With Wolves six points clear of second-placed Cardiff, clubs are now increasing the pressure on the governing bodies to take a closer look at Mendes’s involvement. In the proposed letter obtained by The Telegraph, the EFL is reminded of the FA’s regulations over third-party interest in players, which state: “No club may enter into an agreement which enables any party, other than the club itself, to influence materially the club’s policies or the performance of its teams or players in matches and/or competitions.” The Championship club has drafted a letter to be sent to Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey, right Credit: Xiaolu Chu/Getty Images The senior figure at the club writes: “Given the broad interpretation of ‘agreement’ in the FA’s regulations, which can be any ‘agreement, arrangement, obligation, undertaking or understanding whether oral or written, formal or informal or otherwise’, I would invite the FA and EFL to consider whether Mr Mendes does indeed materially influence Wolves’s policies or the performance of its teams or players in matches and/or competition.” He adds: “Whilst I accept that an agent, such as Mr Mendes, may seek to influence a club such that it retains one of its clients, the greater the number of clients signed by the club, the greater the agent’s influence over it. In addition to this general principle, there exists, in this particular case, a commercial relationship between Fosun and Gestifute. “In these circumstances, I would also invite the EFL to consider whether Mr Mendes meets the definition of a ‘Relevant Person’ for the purposes of Appendix 3 to Section 7 of the EFL regulations.” Wolves have previously insisted they are complying with the rules, however, and point out that Mendes is only an adviser who is not in full control of recruitment. The Football League has also stated on numerous occasions that it remains satisfied over Mendes’s involvement. The Premier League, meanwhile, will conduct a rigorous owners and directors’ test if the club are promoted at the end of the season. Last year, 20 chairmen in the top flight voted unanimously to toughen up the rules on the third-party test. But many Championship clubs, including Leeds, Villa and Derby – the latter two of which are promotion contenders – have been unhappy with what they perceive as a lack of clarity over the Wolves situation. The trio are all thought to have expressed their concerns to the EFL, with the subject expected to be discussed at Thursday’s monthly board meeting. One of the clubs, Villa, face Wolves at home this Saturday.

Rivals call for inquiry into Jorge Mendes' role at Wolves

The Football League has been urged by Championship clubs to investigate the influence of Jorge Mendes, the Portuguese agent, at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and a promotion rival plans to write to the authorities. Mendes, whose clients include Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo, has close links with Wolves and there is growing unease among clubs in the division over how far his influence extends. The Telegraph has seen a draft letter from a rival club, which will be addressed to League chief executive, Shaun Harvey, and the Football Association, outlining those concerns and there is understood to be a growing clamour from others to launch an inquiry. Leeds United, Aston Villa and Derby County are thought to be three of the teams who have voiced dissatisfaction in the past to the Football League. Mendes, who has no official title on the Wolves website, has a number of clients at the club, including head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, £15 million midfielder Ruben Neves, attacker Diogo Jota (on loan from Atlético Madrid) and £7m winger Ivan Cavaleiro. It is alleged that “almost half” of 25 players signed in the past 18 months have been from Mendes’s Gestifute firm, though this has not been officially confirmed. Nuno Espirito Santo, the Wolves manager, is one of many Mendes clients at Molineux Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Mendes’s link with Wolves began in July 2016 when Chinese conglomerate Fosun International completed its £30m takeover, and his presence has always been a source of intrigue for rivals. He has a long-standing relationship with Fosun and agreed to sell a minority share of his agency to a subsidiary of Fosun in 2015. With Wolves six points clear of second-placed Cardiff, clubs are now increasing the pressure on the governing bodies to take a closer look at Mendes’s involvement. In the proposed letter obtained by The Telegraph, the EFL is reminded of the FA’s regulations over third-party interest in players, which state: “No club may enter into an agreement which enables any party, other than the club itself, to influence materially the club’s policies or the performance of its teams or players in matches and/or competitions.” The Championship club has drafted a letter to be sent to Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey, right Credit: Xiaolu Chu/Getty Images The senior figure at the club writes: “Given the broad interpretation of ‘agreement’ in the FA’s regulations, which can be any ‘agreement, arrangement, obligation, undertaking or understanding whether oral or written, formal or informal or otherwise’, I would invite the FA and EFL to consider whether Mr Mendes does indeed materially influence Wolves’s policies or the performance of its teams or players in matches and/or competition.” He adds: “Whilst I accept that an agent, such as Mr Mendes, may seek to influence a club such that it retains one of its clients, the greater the number of clients signed by the club, the greater the agent’s influence over it. In addition to this general principle, there exists, in this particular case, a commercial relationship between Fosun and Gestifute. “In these circumstances, I would also invite the EFL to consider whether Mr Mendes meets the definition of a ‘Relevant Person’ for the purposes of Appendix 3 to Section 7 of the EFL regulations.” Wolves have previously insisted they are complying with the rules, however, and point out that Mendes is only an adviser who is not in full control of recruitment. The Football League has also stated on numerous occasions that it remains satisfied over Mendes’s involvement. The Premier League, meanwhile, will conduct a rigorous owners and directors’ test if the club are promoted at the end of the season. Last year, 20 chairmen in the top flight voted unanimously to toughen up the rules on the third-party test. But many Championship clubs, including Leeds, Villa and Derby – the latter two of which are promotion contenders – have been unhappy with what they perceive as a lack of clarity over the Wolves situation. The trio are all thought to have expressed their concerns to the EFL, with the subject expected to be discussed at Thursday’s monthly board meeting. One of the clubs, Villa, face Wolves at home this Saturday.